Sad news out of Concord, North Carolina last week: a nursing home resident suffering from Alzheimer's disease wandered off a loading dock at the nursing home and later died. An investigation of the incident revealed that the nursing home staff was aware that the resident was a "wanderer," and staff were under strict orders to check on her every 15 minutes. The nursing home staff members failed to monitor the resident, which allowed the resident enough time to wander, unnoticed, through several doors, through the kitchen, outside the home, and off the 4-foot loading dock.
State health officials recommended the maximum $50,000 fine against the nursing home because the loading dock was not equipped with adequate safeguards to prevent the fall. The nursing home has since installed an alarm and fence around the loading dock.
This tragic incident underscores the need for loved ones of potential nursing home residents to do their homework before choosing a nursing home. Carefully inspect the nursing home premises for dangerous conditions that could cause harm to residents. Ask to interview staff members about why they work in the nursing home industry and how long they have been working at this particular nursing home. And lastly, check how the nursing home stacks up on Medicare's 5-star rating system. Not surprisingly, the home where this incident occurred earned the lowest possible rating -- 1 star.
Access the 5-Star Rating System Here
www.EndElderAbuse.com
1-888-LAW-3010
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